Black Voices: News, Culture & Community from Across the Nation
Nationwide — Tanyiah Bell, a 19-year-old African American woman from Philadelphia, was shot and killed by her boyfriend while eight months pregnant. Her baby girl, delivered minutes after the shooting, survived and was named Miracle. Today, the infant continues to fight through serious medical issues.
On November 14, 2024, Tanyiah was shot inside her apartment in Lansdowne, Philadelphia. Paramedics rushed Tanyiah to the hospital, where doctors delivered the baby within five minutes of arrival. Miracle weighed just 4 pounds and needed 25 minutes of CPR before doctors found a heartbeat.
“When I first set eyes on her in the NICU, I just knew that she’s her miracle,” Tanyiah’s mother, Tylicia Bell, told 6 ABC. “I knew that God left me something because I lost my only child.”
Miracle suffered a severe brain injury due to a lack of oxygen at birth. She now has cerebral palsy, a tracheostomy to help her breathe, and other medical complications. She can’t smile, blink, or respond, but doctors say her eyesight and hearing are intact. Tylicia believes the baby can still see and hear the love around her.
“She’s a true fighter,” said Tylicia. “Everything she’s been through, we’ve gotten through. She’s been fighting through it, and we’ve been right by her side every step of her way.”
Tylicia said raising Miracle feels like raising her daughter all over again. The family hopes to bring the baby home soon but needs medical equipment, home modifications, and 24/7 care. Tylicia started a GoFundMe, which has so far raised over $10,000.
Meanwhile, the man accused of killing Tanyiah, 19-year-old Kaiheem Williams, faces charges of murder, attempted murder, and related offenses. He is scheduled to appear in court on July 22.
Read the full article on the original publication
